WMU College of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Oh, how times have changed! Engineering and applied sciences at WMU has looked different all throughout the University's history. From offering industrial arts in 1925, to officially establishing a College of Applied Sciences in 1953, to a cybersecurity program in 2020, WMU has seen a lot of change. We're grateful to see how far our College has come, and how successful our students continue to be! 💫

Alums and students, it's your turn to show us your favorite photos. Comment or send us your favorite pictures from yesterday or today so we can see how much has changed at WMU's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences!

We are excited and honored to announce that Dr. Kristina Lemmer, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, has been named a John O. Hallquist Endowed Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering!

Dr. Lemmer is a leading researcher in plasma and electric propulsion for spacecraft. This award recognizes her exceptional professional distinction, sustained excellence in research and scholarship, and deep commitment to advancing her discipline. Her research has fundamentally advanced the field of electric propulsion, particularly in the areas of time resolved diagnostics and green monopropellants.

“Dr. Lemmer’s appointment as the John O. Hallquist Endowed Professor reflects Western’s continued commitment to innovation and excellence in aerospace and propulsion research,” said Dr. Steve Butt, dean of WMU’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “We celebrate this well-deserved honor and recognize her contributions to our University and the broader engineering community.”

To read more about Dr. Lemmer's achievements and the John O. Hallquist Endowed Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, visit https://wmich.edu/engineer/news/2026/06/kristina-lemmer-hallquist-endowed-professor.

In 2025, WMU took on a leadership role in the recently established Center for Plastic, Paper and Hybrid Packaging End-of-Life Solutions (C3PS)! With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the center is focused on developing solutions to pressing issues related to the amount of plastic waste and plastic-coated paper waste produced in the United States.

“At WMU, we are uniquely positioned to lead the transition to next-generation, fully recyclable and compostable paper-based packaging solutions,” says Dr. Kecheng Li, professor and chair of the Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering.

C3PS is the first Industry–University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) funded by a $1.5 million grant from the NSF. The center is dedicated to advancing sustainable packaging materials and circular economy solutions, as well as supporting pre-competitive, collaborative research to address the urgent environmental challenges tied to packaging waste.

To learn more about the new C3PS, visit https://wmich.edu/engineer/news/2025/08/center-plastic-paper-hybrid-end-life-solutions

Dr. Guadalupe (Lupita) Perez-Duran, post graduate fellow in the Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering, is experienced in advanced thermodynamics, hydrocarbons and refrigerants. And now, on top of her academic success, she's an award-winning photographer!

One of Perez-Duran's photos took third place at the West Michigan Area Show at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts on May 28. Around 500 works were submitted, and 93 were selected for the exhibition.

"Photography is something I enjoy outside of the lab, so I was very happy to be part of the exhibition," says Perez-Duran. "Being selected was already exciting, and receiving third place was a nice surprise."

Have you ever considered the cyberphysical security of your new electric vehicle (EV)? While you are enjoying the benefits of your EV and working hard to protect the life of its battery, cybersecurity expert Dr. Shameek Bhattacharjee, associate professor of computer science, is studying ways to keep you and your vehicle safe.

Bhattacharjee, along with Dr. Richard Meyer, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, as well as Moayad Altawalbeh, a doctor student in computer science, is investigating how your EV may be vulnerable to cyberphysical attacks on your battery management system and researching ways to stop them.

With a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Bhattacharjee is leading an effort to combat this uncommon but growing phenomenon in which attackers exploit possible cyber-physical vulnerabilities and cyber-attacks in EV battery management systems that are used to control how energy is stored in batteries.

To learn more about Bhattacharjee's research, visit https://wmich.edu/engineer/news/2026/01/ev-security-research

Calling all rising 7th and 8th graders! Join Western Michigan University's College of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Office of Pre-College Programming for Circuits and Clouds—an Engineering GearUP summer camp.

This is an overnight camp hosted June 21 through 26 focusing on aviation and electrical engineering. Spend a day learning how electronics work, building and soldering electronic circuits, fly the Cirrus SR20 flight simulator and learn drone operation techniques.

To sign up, visit https://forms.gle/nLNMueD48UTx4jXHA. Questions? Contact Liberty Kostrzewa via email at [email protected].

Engineering and applied sciences Broncos are always striving for greatness, and we always love celebrating their successes! Upendo Bitaliho, a graduate student in civil engineering, was named as a 2026 Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholar and attended the Lifesavers Conference on Roadway Safety in Baltimore, Maryland in April.

The Lifesavers Traffic Safety Scholars and Fellows program offers undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to participate in the nation’s premier roadway safety conference. Bitaliho, along with 25 other students, attended three days of learning and networking with nearly 2,000 traffic safety leaders.

Bitaliho returned to Kalamazoo with extra knowledge and expertise, shaping the path she needs to move into the future. Congratulations!

On Friday, May 1, the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences held its second combined Induction to the Profession ceremony for the Order of the Engineer, the Order of Engineering Technology and the Pledge of the Computing Professional. Over 80 graduating students participated in the ceremony.

In addition to celebrating degree completion, a primary purpose for each of these ceremonies is to reinforce the professional and ethical responsibilities of graduates when applying their knowledge and skills. We're so proud of these graduates and all that they're bound to do on their professional and academic journeys. Congratulations to all of you!